How We Made Your Mother

How We Got Ridonk [with Joe Manganiello] | S2E5 "World's Greatest Couple"

Season two, episode five of How We Made Your Mother dives into “World’s Greatest Couple,” where Lily moves in with Barney, and Marshall finds unexpected companionship with Brad—played by guest star Joe Manganiello, who joins Josh and Craig for the episode. The hosts break down how this fan-favorite storyline came together: Lily’s disastrous apartment, the debut of Barney’s Fortress of Barnitude, and the surprisingly sweet “odd couple” chemistry between Lily and Barney. They also reveal behind-the-scenes details about Joe’s casting, his Carnegie Mellon roots, and how his vulnerable, hilarious energy made Brad a standout character. Josh and Craig discuss the episode’s mystery structure, the craftsmanship behind the Murphy bed gag, and Barney’s hidden loneliness beneath all the bravado. Joe shares stories about his early days in Hollywood, his “bros at brunch” fame, and what could’ve been if Brad had become a series regular. The episode closes with heartfelt listener letters from Emma in Canada and Brenda in New Jersey, reflecting on breakups, creative growth, and how HIMYM helps fans rediscover hope and strength through changing chapters of life. Check out cartoonist and comedian Asher Perlman on INSTAGRAM [https://www.instagram.com/asherperlman]. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website [http://www.howwemadeyourmother.com] (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/howwemadeyourmother/] READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE [https://joshradnor.substack.com]. CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE [https://craigthomaswriter.com/novel] to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE [https://www.howwemadeyourmother.com/makeadifference] to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ [https://officeladies.com/]or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod [https://www.instagram.com/officeladiespod/] Follow on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@officeladiespod?_t=ZT-8y1gqTrJyOs&_r=1] AND MORE: Josh’s Official Website [https://www.joshradnor.com]Josh on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/43jyNhxEcJZ2YbwioBjCbY] Craig’s Official Website [https://craigthomaswriter.com] (with links to his published writing) Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack [https://aleklev.substack.com] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

How We Met the Office Ladies [with Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey]

Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas welcome Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey of Office Ladies for an “extra-extra-special” crossover episode that celebrates the shared DNA between The Office and How I Met Your Mother. The four trade stories about auditioning, early career struggles, and the naïve confidence it took to chase a dream to Los Angeles. Jenna and Angela recall the pressure of remaking the British Office and the moment they knew Diversity Day proved their show’s originality; Josh and Craig compare that to creating HIMYM in the shadow of Friends. They discuss manifesting success, the comfort of ensemble storytelling, nostalgia for network-era TV, and what it means to have made “comfort shows” that helped fans through hard times. The episode closes with a listener letter from Chile about how HIMYM quite literally changed one fan’s life—and a toast to everyone who’s ever found solace, laughter, and a sense of home in these two beloved worlds. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website [http://www.howwemadeyourmother.com] (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/howwemadeyourmother/] FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ [https://officeladies.com/]or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod [https://www.instagram.com/officeladiespod/] Follow on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@officeladiespod?_t=ZT-8y1gqTrJyOs&_r=1] READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE [https://joshradnor.substack.com]. CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE [https://craigthomaswriter.com/novel] to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE [https://www.howwemadeyourmother.com/makeadifference] to learn more and donate today. AND MORE: Josh’s Official Website [https://www.joshradnor.com]Josh on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/43jyNhxEcJZ2YbwioBjCbY] Craig’s Official Website [https://craigthomaswriter.com] (with links to his published writing) Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack [https://aleklev.substack.com] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

How that Wasn't Ted | S2E4 "Ted Mosby: Architect"

In this episode of How We Made Your Mother, Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas revisit Season 2, Episode 4, “Ted Mosby: Architect,” which aired October 9, 2006. They reflect on the show’s use of music—like the Decemberists’ “Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect”—and how songs became part of Ted’s emotional language. They discuss the episode’s mystery structure, Robin and Ted’s first fight, and the episode’s emotional ending, where Ted shares his architectural dream with Robin. The two dive deep into the craft of storytelling, the symbolism of architecture, and the “HIMYM” balance between comedy and emotional truth. They also talk about Field of Dreams, music supervision, and fan letters that show how the series became a source of comfort and inspiration for viewers. General Questions we Sort of Answer: How did Spokane get chosen for the skyscraper site? Was the Decemberists’ song chosen just because it had “architect” in the title, or for its lyrics? Where do Carter and Craig’s real lives end and the fictional HIMYM characters begin? You can check out Evryman retreats HERE [https://evryman.com]. If you don’t know the amazing work of the great Al Hirschfeld, take a LOOK [https://www.alhirschfeldfoundationshop.org/stage/]. Listen to Ezra Klein’s interview with Brian Eno on APPLE PODCASTS [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ezra-klein-show/id1548604447?i=1000729862169] or SPOTIFY [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1DioiFBIw28mpKEcveTRXP?si=e6ee09df16754601]. And yes… you can check out Josh’s Tedscapes on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6eSOwChaHlRY5uxfocIp2A?si=890d378b1beb41c4&nd=1&dlsi=7a147593ece54523]. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website [http://www.howwemadeyourmother.com] (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/howwemadeyourmother/] READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE [https://joshradnor.substack.com]. CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE [https://craigthomaswriter.com/novel] to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE [https://www.howwemadeyourmother.com/makeadifference] to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ [https://officeladies.com/]or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod [https://www.instagram.com/officeladiespod/] Follow on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@officeladiespod?_t=ZT-8y1gqTrJyOs&_r=1] AND MORE: Josh’s Official Website [https://www.joshradnor.com]Josh on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/43jyNhxEcJZ2YbwioBjCbY] Craig’s Official Website [https://craigthomaswriter.com] (with links to his published writing) Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack [https://aleklev.substack.com] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

How We Met Marshall's Calves | S2E3 "Brunch"

Season two, episode three of How We Made Your Mother takes on “Brunch,” the HIMYM episode that juggles family chaos, secrets, and spicy breakfast rolls. Josh and Craig reminisce about casting Michael Gross—yes, the dad from Family Ties—as Ted’s father, and how surreal that was for Josh, who grew up watching him on TV in Columbus, Ohio. They unpack the episode’s Pulp Fiction-style structure, Ted’s awkward family brunch with his divorced parents, Robin, and Barney, and the hilarious side plots of Marshall and Lily’s lingering chemistry (and calves). The hosts also dive into themes of communication, generational love languages, and repeating family patterns, praising Steven Lloyd’s dark humor and Christine Rose’s comedic subtlety. Barney’s needy attempts to outshine Robin, Ted’s questionable shirt choices, and the debut of the “83%” statistic all get airtime, before a touching fan letter from Mexico reflects how HIMYM continues to offer hope and comfort to viewers around the world. Check out Friend of the Devil [https://www.amazon.com/Friend-Devil-Stephen-Lloyd/dp/0593331389/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1JJKXW8RE59AA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1g9pz9eg6kitN5YJPIDfqbRFSo6IVcb5gOpEm6h27rCx4aVg1N07Ch2yKUj_6HLujdfjXhjJAssGLWEMAvmBi8GiC5jKFTOH6SxAx3rOgZJLIbWaO0NM0JenhQIFgtn0mURoY6cK-WlSyM7K2qno5cNgu7wKcZMm3N7I8EoxR8lXSqec-22SWGv7c1xzwS69UooewGtlt5n_ncC6UOZ3cLFqiOFEbn5q25xi__1FwXA.GFgrabCWTEe-ZacNECLLbRMF4liOEkTH2Y8wy0DJDQA&dib_tag=se&keywords=stephen+lloyd+book&qid=1759855466&sprefix=stephen+lloyd+book%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-2] by Stephen Lloyd Read Oldster [https://oldster.substack.com] on Substack CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website [http://www.howwemadeyourmother.com] (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/howwemadeyourmother/] READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE [https://joshradnor.substack.com]. CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE [https://craigthomaswriter.com/novel] to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE [https://www.howwemadeyourmother.com/makeadifference] to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ [https://officeladies.com/]or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod [https://www.instagram.com/officeladiespod/] Follow on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@officeladiespod?_t=ZT-8y1gqTrJyOs&_r=1] AND MORE: Josh’s Official Website [https://www.joshradnor.com]Josh on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/43jyNhxEcJZ2YbwioBjCbY] Craig’s Official Website [https://craigthomaswriter.com] (with links to his published writing) Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack [https://aleklev.substack.com] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

How Marshall Met the Apocalyptic Wasteland | S2E2 "The Scorpion and the Toad"

Season two, episode two of How We Made Your Mother opens with a message from Brazil, and a story about growing up with HIMYM that sets the tone for a conversation about comfort, change, and creative courage. Josh and Craig discuss “The Scorpion and the Toad,” where Marshall tries to reenter the dating world with Barney as his wingman—only to be repeatedly sabotaged by him. They unpack the Aesop fable behind the title, Barney’s compulsive nature, and how this episode explores addiction, friendship, and moral boundaries beneath the comedy. The hosts share behind-the-scenes moments about Lily’s emotional return, Neil Patrick Harris’s magic tricks, and the infamous “smelly water” line, while praising Chris Harris’s clever wordplay and Alyson Hannigan’s acting. They touch on gender norms, Ted’s “lucky penny” bit, and Robin and Ted’s early relationship bliss before closing with Craig’s announcement of his debut novel That’s Not How It Happened and a heartfelt fan letter about how Lily’s bravery inspires creative risk-taking. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website [http://www.howwemadeyourmother.com] (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/howwemadeyourmother/] READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE [https://joshradnor.substack.com]. CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE [https://craigthomaswriter.com/novel] to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE [https://www.howwemadeyourmother.com/makeadifference] to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ [https://officeladies.com/]or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod [https://www.instagram.com/officeladiespod/] Follow on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@officeladiespod?_t=ZT-8y1gqTrJyOs&_r=1] AND MORE: Josh’s Official Website [https://www.joshradnor.com] Josh on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/43jyNhxEcJZ2YbwioBjCbY] Craig’s Official Website [https://craigthomaswriter.com] (with links to his published writing) Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack [https://aleklev.substack.com] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]